What to tell 120 if someone wakes up with stroke symptoms

Tell 120 where you are

In mainland China, call 120 immediately if someone suddenly has trouble speaking, develops a drooping mouth or cannot raise one arm. Sudden changes in vision or marked loss of balance can also signal a stroke. Tell the dispatcher what happened even if the symptoms have eased.

You can say: “I think this is a stroke. We’re at [city, district, street address], in [hotel or building, floor and room]. His speech suddenly became slurred and he can’t raise his right hand. My callback number is [number].” If you cannot give the address in Chinese, ask a companion or hotel reception to help. Keep the phone free for callbacks. If someone else is with you, ask one person to meet the crew at the agreed entrance while the other stays with the patient.

Give two times if the symptoms appeared on waking

If the person spoke normally at 10 pm and you first noticed symptoms at 7 am, say both times. If someone spoke to the patient later in the night and can confirm that they were still well, give the crew that later time. If no one saw the symptoms start, say that the onset time is unknown.

If the person slept alone and nobody can confirm when they were last well, give the earliest time anyone noticed symptoms and say what you saw yourself. Make the call first and add new information as it becomes available. At the hospital, say whether the symptoms persisted, worsened or briefly went away.

What to hand over to the ambulance crew

Follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Give no water, food or medicines while waiting. Do not delay transport for an interpreter, outpatient appointment or callback from a coordination service. If medication information is at hand, tell the crew whether the person takes an anticoagulant, what it is and when they last took it. Say if you are unsure. Bring an easily available package or photo.

Why the hospital may start with a CT scan

Bleeding in the brain and a blocked blood vessel can both cause sudden difficulty speaking. A plain head CT helps the emergency team check for bleeding. If they suspect a blockage, CT angiography (CTA) may help locate it, and perfusion imaging may help assess blood flow. The team chooses the scans based on the symptoms and timeline.

Give both times to the hospital team along with the symptoms. If symptoms were first noticed on waking, let the team assess the options and focus on getting emergency care without delay. See How to call 120 in China.